Chicken sukka / chukka recipe | Dry Chicken with coconut

"Chicken Sukka / Chukka" refers to a South Indian meat dish, Ingredients and produce are similar yet each region has many signature dishes to offer. This recipe comes from my Aunt, she used to prepare it with Mutton. You can try with all kind of meat, I tried with boneless chicken.

Morsels of chicken fried over a low flame with grated coconut and spices.The coconut in this recipe is not overwhelming and works beautifully with the chicken. I would say, coconut is the key ingredient apart from meat.Try it out, I'm sure you are gonna love it!!!

Ingredient:

300 grms Chicken
1 tblsp coriander powder
1 tblsp red chilli powder
1/2 tsp garam masala
salt to taste
1/4 cup water
oil

Wet Ingredients:

1 medium size Onion
1 small Tomato
2-3 Garlic cloves
1 inch Ginger
2-3 sprig Curry leaves
1/2 cup Coriander leaves ( or handful)
2 Cloves
1/2 inch Cinnamon bark
2 Cardamom pods
3 tblsp shredded Coconut ( fresh or dry)

Method:

• In a pan add little oil, cumin seeds, cloves, cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, garlic and onion. Saute for few seconds or till onion turns little golden brown.
• Then add tomato, shredded coconut and coriander leaves. Saute for 1 minute ensure that you regularly keep stirring as the coconut can easily stick to the bottom of the pan. Once done turn off the flame and keep it aside. Once it cools down add little water and make a paste.Wet masala can easily be prepared in advance and freezes well.
• Heat little oil in a kadai/pan, add the paste and stir,be careful as the masala may splatter. Again ensure that you stir the masala occasionally or it will burn.
• Once the masala oozes oil, lower the flame and add red chilli powder, garam masala and coriander powder.
• Add chicken pieces and some curry leaves. Mix well and coat all the chicken pieces with the masala.
• Since this is a dry dish add very little water around 1/4 cup or 3 tblsp. Mix and cover the pan with a lid and cook.
• Once the chicken pieces becomes succulent, add leftover curry leaves on top mix again for few seconds. Then switch off the flame.
• Serve with steamed rice or roti.

Pictorial:

                                                      Get all wet ingredients ready.

In a pan add little oil, cumin seeds, cloves, cinnamon, cardamom, ginger, garlic and onion. Saute for few seconds or till onion turns little golden brown.

Then add tomato, shredded coconut and coriander leaves. Saute for 1 minute ensure that you regularly keep stirring as the coconut can easily stick to the bottom of the pan. Once done turn off the flame and keep it aside. Once it cools down add little water and make a paste.Wet masala can easily be prepared in advance and freezes well.

Heat little oil in a kadai/pan, add the paste and stir,be careful as the masala may splatter. Again ensure that you stir the masala occasionally or it will burn.

Once the masala oozes oil, lower the flame and add red chilli powder, coriander powder and garam masala.

Add chicken pieces and some curry leaves. Mix well and coat all the chicken pieces with the masala.

Since this is a dry dish add very little around 1/4 cup or 3 tblsp of water. Mix and cover the pan with a lid and cook.

Once the chicken pieces becomes succulent, add leftover curry leaves on top mix again for few seconds. Then switch off the flame.

                                                            Serve with steamed rice.

Bread Pizza recipe | Quick Bread Pizza

Pizza are Kids favorite, even adults love it too..This is probably one of the easiest recipe you can make if you are craving for Pizza and do not have time to prepare the dough. Easy, quick and delicious, great for snack or as party starter. I am preparing it on Tawa/ stove top. Can also be prepared in Oven at 350F (180C)

You can add various veggies of your choice like olives, Jalapeno, cherry tomato, corn etc. with any type of cheese.Give it a try, I'm sure you and your family will love it.

Ingredients:

4-6 Bread slices ( any bread of your choice)
1/4 cup tomato sauce ( can even use tomato ketchup)
1/2 cup veggies chopped ( I have used onions, tomatoes, bell pepper and mushrooms)
1/2 cup grated cheese ( I have used mozzarella)
1 tsp dry oregano
Butter/ olive oil

Method:
On Tava 

Chop vegetables of your choice and to your desired shape. Add little grated cheese, pinch of salt and pinch of oregano. Mix well.

                Take a bread slice and spread some tomato sauce or pizza sauce.

                                        Then add chopped veggies on top of bread slices.

                                            On top off veggies spread grated cheese.

Heat a pan, spread some butter/ olive oil on very low flame. Then place the bread slices.

               Cover the lid and cook for 5-6 minutes or until cheese melts.
                                         Serve hot with some sauce.

In The Oven :

• Preheat oven 350F (180C)
• Place the bread slices on a baking tray.
• Spread some tomato or pizza sauce on the bread, then add the veggies ( do not chop finely) and on top of the veggies add the grated cheese, sprinkle some dry oregano  or chilli flakes on top (optional)
• Place the tray in the oven and bake for 6-8 minutes or until cheese melts.
• Serve hot.

Notes:

1. Can use and bread and vegetables of your choice.
2. If preparing in the oven do not chop the vegetables finely.

Mango Lassi

The King of fruit is in the market, so thought of making some Mango lassi. What a better way to combine sweetness of mango with the coolness of yogurt. This lassi can be made from different varieties of mangoes. The color of the lassi will depend on the variety of mango been used. Just make sure whichever mango you use the pulp should be smooth and not fibrous.

Ingredients:

1 Large ripe Mango peeled and chopped
1 Cup chilled yogurt / Dahi
Sweetener ( optional)
Ice cubes (optional)

Method:

• Peel the skin from mango and chop them.
• In a blender or mixer, blend mangoes and yogurt.
• Check the sweetness and thickness.You can add sugar or honey as a sweetener and if it's thick add little water and blend once again till it's creamy in texture.
• Pour it into a serving glass and garnish with some shopped nuts or cream.

Notes:

1. Adjust the sweetness and thickness as per your taste.

Atta Ladoo recipe | Sweet balls made from Whole Wheat flour | Atta Ladoo with Jaggery

Whole Wheat or Atta Laddu is a wholesome Indian sweet, tasty and easy at the same time. I have used jaggery instead of sugar, which makes it more healthy. Roasted nuts and desiccated coconut added to the laddu makes it more delicious.

 This laddu is good for kids and can be given as a snack or packed in their lunch box. This laddu is great if u have to make some home based sweet to guest or family in very less time. So, what are you waiting for?? Do try...

Ingredients:

1 cup Wheat flour / Atta
1/3 cup Ghee
1/2 cup Jaggery ( can adjust the sweetness)
1/4 cup desiccated coconut
1/4 cup nuts ( I have used almonds, pistachio, walnut and flax seed)


Instructions:

• Take a pan, add ghee and wheat flour. Dry roast the wheat flour on low flame stirring continuously or it will burn. Keep roasting until aroma starts wafting and it turns golden brown in color. Do not keep the flame on high.

• Add desiccated coconut ( you can adjust the quantity or can skip) and roast again on low flame for 1 minute. 

• You can roast and chop the nuts or coarsely grind them. Add to the mixture and mix well.

• Now, switch off the flame and add the powdered jaggery and mix well.

• After some time when the mixture gets warm, make small balls out of it. The balls will be bit soft but will become firm after few hours.

                                      Enjoy this healthy sweet with your friends and family.

Notes:

1. Roast the wheat flour nicely or else it will give raw taste to the laddu.
2. Do not allow the mixture to cool down completely or else balls or laddu won't form.
3. If the you are not able to shape into balls, two reasons 1. less ghee 2. you allowed the mixture to cool down completely.
4. Two ways to fix it. 1. Sprinkle some warm milk.( will lessen the shelf life) 2. Reheat the mixture on low flame and add some ghee. 
5. You can add sesame seeds, chia seeds, raisins, cashews etc.
6. Store in an air tight container.

Semiya Payasam | Vermicelli kheer recipe | Semiya kheer

Semiya Payasam/ Vermicelli kheer is a very popular South Indian dessert, specially prepared during wedding or festive occasion like Onam or Vishu. I prepared this sweet dish on Vishu. Late post ;)

 This dessert is prepared with roasted vermicelli, milk, nuts and sweetened with sugar. It is creamy, delicious and easy to prepare. Served warm or cold, needless to say this creamy dessert is sure to please.

Ingredients:

1 cup Vermicelli ( broken)
3 cups Milk ( whole milk)
1/2 cup Water
1/4- 1/2 cup Sugar or as per your taste
2 tblsp Condensed milk ( optional)
2 tblsp Ghee/ Clarified butter
1/4 tsp Cardamom powder
10-12 Raisins
10-12 Cashew nuts

Method:

• Heat Milk and water in a thick heavy bottom pan on medium flame and allow it to boil.
• Meanwhile, take a pan add ghee and roast the raisins and cashews till light brown in colour. Remove and keep it aside.
• In a same pan roast vermicelli till it turns to light golden color and set aside.
• Powder cardamom with a tsp of sugar and keep aside.
• Once the milk boils, add sugar, condensed milk and cardamom powder and keep stirring.
• Once the milk is reduced, add roasted vermicelli and keep stirring at regular intervals or else lumps will form.
• Do not overcook the vermicelli.
• Lastly, add roasted nuts on top.
• Semiya payasam is ready to be served.
• Serve hot or chilled.

Pictorial:

Heat Milk and water in a thick heavy bottom pan on medium flame and allow it to boil.

Meanwhile, take a pan add ghee and roast the raisins and cashews till light brown in colour. Remove and keep it aside. In a same pan roast vermicelli till it turns to light golden color and set aside.

Once the milk boils, add sugar, condensed milk and cardamom powder and keep stirring.

Once the milk is reduced, add roasted vermicelli and keep stirring at regular intervals or else lumps will form. Do not overcook the vermicelli.

                                                        Lastly, add roasted nuts on top.

                                     Tadhaa!! Semiya payasam is ready to be served.


Notes:

1. As the kheer cools, will become thick.
2. Can add hot or cold milk to adjust the consistency of the kheer before serving.

Oreo Milkshake

Oreo Milkshake!! Perfect on a hot sunny day to have this creamy dreamy milkshake...Irresistible specially for a Chocoholic... like ME :) Super easy to make. Kids will love this, you can also involve them in preparing this. If you are looking for a real treat, can add toppings like whipped cream, chocolate chips or syrup, sprinkles etc...

Ingredients:

3 Oreo cookies
1 cup chilled Milk
1 scoop Ice cream

Method:

• In a blender, break cookies into 3-4 pieces, add milk and ice cream and blend until smooth.
• Pour it into a serving glass and garnish it with some crushed oreos and serve cold.